Target apparatus



s Sheets-Shefi 1 Original Filed Dec. 18 1918 FIE-.4;

16 A R w v n v WI WITNESSES W Nov. 27, 1923 1,415,493 G. A KERESTES TARGET APPARATUS Original Fi led Dec. 18 1918 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE-L7- Nov. 27 1923 G.-A. KERESTES TARGET APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 18. 1918 FIE-1D.-

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 27, 19 23.

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GEORGE A. KERESTES, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANILA, ASSIGNOR T0 NOVELTY AMUSEMENT 00., OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

WARE.

A CORPORATION OF DELA- TARGET APPARATUS.

Application filed December 18, 1818, Serial No. 267,341. Renewed October 10, 1923.

To all whom it may cancer-a; 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. Knnnsrns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny'and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in target apparatus designed for use in connection with moving picture and stereopticon machines and the like, and more particularly to that class of apparatus in which a picture is projected upon a perforable screen behind which is a target adapted, on the impact of a bullet or projectile, to make electrical connections whereby means responsive to said impact areemployed for controlling the operation of the picture projecting device or the like.

Apparatus of this class is shown in patent granted to me October 8, 1918, No. 1,281,169; in the said patent I have shown an embodiment employed with a moving picture machine. In the present invention, I show an embodiment including a stereopticon machine, but it is evident that my in vention as herein disclosed may be utilized in combination with a moving picture ma chine. V r

In machines of the class to which my invention relates and in target apparatus which electrical currents are employed, considerable trouble has heretofore been en- T countered due to the unsatisfactory target per se and its connections, and one 01": the prime objects of the present invention is to provide a target or impact receiving means and connections of simple and eificientconstruction whereby the disadvantages now present are obviated.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an application of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a part elevational and a part sectional view particularly showing a perforable screen and a target against which the projectiles or bullets are adapted to strike;

Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the target and an electrical switch in connection therewith;

Fig. 3, an elevational view of the portion shown by Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a sectional detail particularly showlng, in connection with the target, the main operating switch;

Fig. 5, an elevational viewfof the switch mechanismshown by Fig. 4; f Y

Fig. 6, a detail perspective view'of a plate entered into the construction of the target;

Fig. 7, a rear elevational view'of the tarof Fig. 7; v

Fig. 9, a perspective detail view; and Fig. 10, a diagrammatic View. 7 As shownin the drawings, I employ two stereopticon machines A and B ofany suitturning on the light tothe other stereopticon machine, thereby instantaneously changing the projected picture of the soldier into another picture of any character contained on the plate of the second machine.

Means are also provided, actuated by the impact of the bullet, for indicating when the picture is hit at some point other than the bulls eye. As illustrated, these means include a colored shutter adapted to be thrown across the projected picture, thus changing the color of the picture on the screen. ;It is evidentthat other means for indicating the hits may be employed.

The target D and its supporting" structure, as illustrated and as preferred, comprises a metallic framework including the frontuprights 1, inclined vertically extending rear members 2, and horizontally extending members 3 connecting the front and rear mem' bers. The inclined members 2 are connected by a series of cross anglebars 4:. Angle bars 1 at are designed to support a number of independently movable overlapping metallic plates 5. v

The form of the plates 5 is particularly shown by Fig. 6, and, as shown, each comprises an upper cutaway portion and a pair of upwardly projecting apertured lugs 6. Plates 5 are loosely suspended from the Fig. 8, a sectional View taken on line 88 V b means of ins 7 vention, an upward movementot rod L.

angle bars 4 in a slightly inclined position, one end of each pin extending through an opening in bar l and its other end through an aperture 8 in the lug 6. Said plates 5, being suspended in the manner shown, are each adapted to be moved. inwardly the desired distance upon impact ot a bullet, and after saic. inward movement, to swing back due to gravity, to their normal inclined positions; these positions being shown by lf ig. 1. Each plate is provided with an inwardly projecting push rod 9 and a plate engaging hook member 10., said hook member being adapted to engage an acent plate. The function of member 10 is to prevent the plates swinging forward to a vertical position or beyond a vertical plane. thus preventing an inward move ment of a plate except when itis effected by the impact oi"? the bullet.

11 designates a vertically extending switch operatingrod carrying thereon a con tact member 12. Contact member 12 is adapted to cooperate with switch mechanism 13 (see Fig. Extending at right angles with rod 11. and across the target 1 employ a number of loosely mounted bars 14!: each having rigidly secured thereto a plurality of light plates 15.

Each plate 15 is disposed in the line oi travel-of the rod 9 ot a plate 5, consequently, when one of the plates 5 is moved inwardly, rod 9 will come into contact with a plate 15 movingsaid plate suiiiciently to cause the bar let to be tilted for the purpose of raising the switch operating rod .11. in addition to the plates 15, bars 1 1 also carry a I vertically extending row of angular plates 15. These latter plates are each termed with a bifurcated portion adapted to straddle rod 11 and to engage pins 16 carried on said rod 11.

From the construction just described. it

movement of plate 5, due to the impact or". a bullet, rod 11 will be raised sufi iciently to complete an electrical circuit for the purpose of effecting certain predetermined. operations. y

In the particular embodiment ot my in 1 brings Contact member 12 into position to complete the circuit to relay or solenoidlltj thereby moving core 1'? inwardly, its opposite end being connected with switch 18 by means of arm 18 a fiber link construction 19. 2O designates a spring pressed arm designed to hold core 1'? in its inward position. Closing the circuit as thus described energizes solenoid 21 causing its core 22 to be drawn upwardly until the upper end ofthe core 22 strikes against the arm 20, thereby releasing core 17 which is drawn back to'its opposite position by means of a spring 28, thus dis-connecting current to solenoid 21. The movement of core 22 actu ates rods 2% to eiiect a movement of a sliding bar 25. Sliding bar 25 is provided with slots 26, and 2'? designates pins on which the bar is mounted.

28 designates a colored shutter adapted. to be moved over and away from the machine A for the purpose of changing the color of the projected picture on the screen C. The movement 01": this shutter is controlled by the movable bar 25 and the connections between said bar and the core 22. Theshut ter is provided with a pin 29 designed to make contact with an offset 3-0 on the end of said bar 25. The shutter is also provided witha notch 31 which is adaptedto engage an end or" a pivoted s ring controlled arm 32, whereby the shutter is main tained in position before the light a pre determined length of time. Bar 25 also carries a sliding contact which is adapted to slide upon a fibe block 3 1 haw ing a metallic contact plate 36 designates a guide which prevents arm 33 coming into contact with the plate 35 untilthe return movement of said arm.

Means for controlling the descent of core 22 are provided, and, as shown, they include a small oil pump structure 37, said pump structure acting as a timer to determine the period of time the shutter is disposed over the machine A. The timer or oil pump may be adjusted by the screw rod 38 which latter controls the movement of the oil within the pump.

Amovement of the bar 25 in the opposite direction closes the circuit to the curtain or screen solenoid 39 for the purpose of mor the screen C sligl'itly.v This is effected by means of the arm 33 cominginto contact with plate 35, thereby completing the circuit. This movement also causes the end of arm 32 to be removed from the noteh 3t 0t shutter 28, and as the shutter is weighted. it will move away "from its position over the light into the positionshown in 1 10. The function of shutter 28, which is a colored shutter of. any suitable material, is to change the color of the picture projected on to the screen 0 when. a bullet strikes the target. V

As heretofore stated, under the application of my invention-as shown, the marks man attempts to hit a particular spot on the screen or curtain. Directly behind the predetermined spot on the curtain, l. employ an element which, when struck by the bullet, actuates means to close an electric circuit for the purpose of switching the light from one stereopticon machine to the other, thereby producing, when the bulls eye is hit. an immediate change of pictures.

The means shown for accomplishing this end include a push rod 110 mounted and adapted to move in a casing 4-1. Rod 40 at one end is provided with the element 42; the'opposite end of rod 40 is adapted, when forced backward by the bullet, to strike a. pivoted plate 48, said plate in turn being adapted to move arms 44, which latter are pivotally supported on a rod designed to be moved slightly by the plate 43 (see Fig. 3). Each arm 44 has a contact point adapted to be moved into engagement with contact points on switches 45 and 45 Spring 46 interposed-between. the head and an end of the casing causes the push rod to move back into normal position immediately after the circuit to a solenoid 47 is closed, and a spring 46 draws the plate 43 together with its arms 44 back to their normal-position. A completion ofthe circuits just men tioned moves core 48 and the connected switch arm 49 sufiiciently to shift the contact from contact point 50 to contact point 51 of said switch 52, thereby cutting off light to machine A and turning on the light to machine B. Machine B is designed to project a difierent picture from the picture projected by machine A.

Simultaneously with the completion of the circuit to solenoid 47, a circuit is completed to solenoid 16 through switch 45 for the purpose of energizing solenoid 21 to control the time it is desired to have the picture from machine B thrown onto the screen.

It will be understood that the timer 37 is employed for this purpose, also that when core 48 is drawn towards solenoid 47, a pivoted spring controlled arm 53 holds the core in position until released by the act-ion of lever 54, the latter being fixedlv secured to shutter or screen 28, the movement of said arm 54 being efiected by the movement of the sliding bar 25. 55 designates the spring connected with arm 53 and 56 a spring having one end secured to arm 49 and designed to normally maintain the said arm and core 48 outwardly and away from solenoid 47.

lVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a picture projecting machine, of a target including a plurality of overlapping loosely suspended plates adapted to be moved by the impact of a bullet, and means including a tiltable bar, a vertically movable switch actuating element, and connections between said element and the tiltable bar actuated by the movement of a plate for controlling the operations of the picture machine.

2. In target apparatus for use with picture projecting machines, a picture projecting device, a pertorable screen, a target back of the screen, and means actuated by the impact of a bullet on the target for changing the color of the picture on the screen.

3. In target apparatus for use with pic ture projecting machines, a picture projecting device, a perforable screen, a target back of the screen, and means actuated by the plates disposed in inclined planes, an electric circuit, a switch mechanism, anelectric contact means actuated by the movement of an impact plate, said contact means common to'a plurality of impact plates and. co operating with the switch mechanism to make and break the circuit. 7

' 5. In target apparatus, a target having a plurality of overlapping loosely suspended plates disposed in. inclined planes and adapted. to be moved by the impact of a bullet, means carried by one plate and cooperating with an adjacent plate'for. preventing the plates swinging into vertical positions, a normally inactive electric circuit connected with the target, and mechanism actuated by the movement of a plate for rendering the said electric circuit active.

6. In target apparatus, a' target having a plurality of overlapping loosely suspended impact plates, a plurality of movable cross bars having plate members thereon, a rod carried by an impact plate and adapted upon the impact of abullet to move one of the plate members and its bar, a vertically movable rod having pins, means on said cross bars for engaging said pins, a switch mechanism, an electric contact member on the vertically movable rod' arranged to be moved into and out of contact with the switch to make and break an electric circuit.

7. In target apparatus, a target including a plurality of overlapping loosely suspended and inclined impact plates, means carried by the plates for preventing the plates swinging into vertical positions, an electric switch mechanism, common electric contact means for a plurality of plates interposed between the impact plates and the switch and actuated by the movement of an impact plate to close an electric circuit.

8. In target apparatus, a target including a plurality of overlapping loosely suspended.

and inclined impact plates, loosely mounted cross bars having projecting elements rigidly secured thereto, means carried by an impact plate for striking a projecting element of a cross bar, an electric switch mechanism, means interposed between the impact plates and the switch and actuated by the movement of an impactplate, said latter means including a vertically movable rod having a contact member coacting with the switch mechanism to make and break an electric circuit.

9. In target apparatus, a target having a loosely suspended impact plate, a switch mechanism, and meansinterposed between the impact plate and switch mechanism to make and break an electric circuit, said means including a vertically movable rod carrying an electric contact member, and elements actuated by the movement of the impact plate for moving said rod.

10. In target apparatus, a target including a loosely suspended impact plate, a movable cross-bar carrying a plate member, a rod carried by the impact plate and adapted upon the impact of a bullet to strike the plate of the cross-bar to tilt the latter, a switch mechanism, and means actuated by the movement of the cross-bar and cooperating with the switch to make and break an electric circuit.

11. In target apparatus, a target including a loosely suspended impact plate, amovable cross-bar carrying a plate member, means on the impact plate adapted upon n rrates impact of a bullet to strike the plate of the cross-bar to tilt the latter, switch mechanism, and means including a vertically movable rod actuated by the movement of the cross-bar and cooperating with the switch to make and break an electric circuit. i 12. In target apparatus, a target including a plurality of suspended impact plates, an electric circuit, a switch mechanism, a common electrical contact device actuated by the movement of an impact plate and cooperating with said switch mechanism to make and break the circuit.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE A. KERESTES.

Witnesses:

J. M. 'GEOGHEGAN, Lois WINEMAN. 

